The characterization of the letter published about him in Scientific American [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eric-lander-is-not-the-ideal-choice-fo

The characterization of the letter published about him in Scientific American [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eric-lander-is-not-the-ideal-choice-for-presidential-science-adviser/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eric-lander-is-no...] seems fair. The political face needs to be from a sufficiently marginalized group to withstand scrutiny. If there’s enough available actual talent to see these efforts through and deliver results, it will be a win for the diversity community. If there are no breakthroughs, or the effort sputters to get going, it will not help that cause. As the offspring of a woman scientist, I look at the 500 group with a bit of skepticism. Science itself seems in the background. Their page that is to highlight their cohort’s projects only shows faces, which are the least interesting aspect of pretty much any scientist.